Medal Extravaganza Over County Champs Weekend

The past weekend saw an early-season culmination of the track and field season, with both the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire County Championships taking place. Each held over two days, the former was situated at the heralded Saffron Lane complex, with the latter in situ at Corby Rockingham Triangle venue, and the combination saw no fewer than seven Harborough AC Club records fall, with a very lucky thirteen medals garnered in the process!

Amongst the baker’s dozen were four golden loaves, with pride of place going to: Chris Holliday in the Masters’ 400m hurdles; Lianne Brooks (Senior Women’s Pole Vault); Myles Fenwick (QuadKids 100m); and Lottie Edwards (U13 Girls’ High Jump), with the latter establishing a new Club best mark of 1.35m. Further records were revised by Sean Fenwick (16:09 for third place in the Masters’ 5000m), Niamh Watson (5:11.2 for third in the U15 Girls’ 1500m, revising a record set before she was even born!), and Sophie Domingo (12.5s for silver in the 75m hurdles, and 1.40m for bronze in the High Jump – in the U15 Girls’ bracket). Domingo then added to her personal haul with two more third spots, in the 300m and Long Jump. The final podium position was also occupied by Niamh Watson (in the U15 Girls’ 800m), and Chris Rodrigo (in the Senior Men’s 100m), whilst Lottie Edwards backed up her gold with a silver in the U13 Girls’ Shot Put.

Reflecting on two days that may well mean the Club needs to invest in a larger trophy cabinet was Women’s Track & Field Captain, Lianne Brooks: “This time last year, we didn’t quite manage double-figures in terms of the number of medals we were able to pick up. So to get a total of 13 this time round was incredible! And I can’t really pick any one person out, but the golden group do stand out, as does Sophie Domingo. What a fantastic way to really kick-off the track and field season: I’m really excited for the coming few months!”

One day prior to the Championships, five more Club runners took part in the third instalment of the 2013 East Midlands Grand Prix Series, at the Blisworth 5 miler. A well-known race in its own right, the event has now been added to the Series, and garnered a turnout of some 350-plus entrants. Ady King once again proved his penchant for the road routes, with 28th spot overall – in a time of 29:20 – and fifth in the MV40 category. Nick Johnston (181st, in 37:14); Jackie King (244th, 40:07); Ruth Bingham (272nd, 42:49); and Jo Johnston (279th, 43:07) rounded off the HAC combatants.

Also on the harder surfaces, Marise Taylor and Graham Laurie continued their respective affinities for the Parkrun races, with Taylor clocking 25:32 for 132nd in Braunstone, and Laurie 31:33 for 130th in Northampton.